-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A massive typhoon crept across central Philippines on Sunday , sending thousands of people into shelters and pouring heavy rain that heightened the risk of flooding and landslides .

Typhoon Hagupit -- its name means `` lash '' in Filipino -- moved west-northwest and targeted the city of Legazpi , just north of where the storm made landfall on Saturday .

CNN 's Saima Mohsin , reporting from Legazpi on Sunday , said shelters were full as high winds and driving rain battered the city . One of the city 's major fears is a storm surge that could reach 2-4 meters -LRB- 6.5 to 13 feet -RRB- .

With memories of last year 's devastating super typhoon fresh in their minds , more than 600,000 people had evacuated by Saturday morning , according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council . About 40 million people are in the path of the storm 's winds .

Gen. Gregorio Catapang , chief of staff of armed forces , said at a Sunday press conference that soldiers were working to clear roads and airports so that emergency services could be delivered .

Eleven nations had offered assistance , including the Australia , the United States , China , Japan and the United Kingdom .

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said that the storm is actually breaking up over the land mass of the Philippines , but will continue to pour heavy rain . He said 395 mm -LRB- 15.5 inches -RRB- of rain were reported in Bororgan in 24 hours .

Hagupit is moving slowly on its west-northwest track , at 15 kph -LRB- 9.3 mph -RRB- . At that rate , it will take about three days for the storm to travel past the capital , Manila , dumping extreme amounts of rainfall -- more than a foot in some places -- as it goes .

Expected to lose some punch by Manila

Hagupit should be significantly weaker by the time it reaches Manila , but winds will still be higher than 100 kph -LRB- 60 mph -RRB- . The biggest threat in the capital will come from the heavy rainfall .

That will lead to flash flooding and mudslides , even in places far away from the storm 's center .

Despite the threats of danger , a CNN crew in Legazpi saw many residents who were ignoring evacuation orders and vowing to stay in their makeshift beachside homes .

`` I think we can handle the situation . If or when it gets worse , we 'll go to the evacuation center , '' one man said .

`` We 've been here 25 years and seen many typhoons , '' said a woman at the coast . `` This one already feels stronger than Typhoon Haiyan , but we wo n't leave yet . ''

The typhoon came ashore on eastern Samar Island just before 10 p.m. -LRB- 9 a.m. ET -RRB- with winds of 205 kph -LRB- 127 mph -RRB- -- the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane .

Town ravaged last year escapes major damage

One city farther south breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday .

In Tacloban , the streets were empty because residents had already evacuated . Last year , super typhoon Haiyan devastated Tacloban , killing more than 6,000 people and making around 200,000 people homeless .

Mayor Alfred Romualdez told CNN the city is without power but he 's seen only minor damage with broken windows and trees down . Many roads were flooded , but not impassable .

About 48,000 people have moved to evacuation centers , he said ; there have been no casualties .

CNN 's Asia-Pacific editor Andrew Stephens , reporting from Tacloban , said there was no storm surge . `` The main emotion here is one of relief , '' he said .

Fishermen fears typhoon will `` destroy everything ''

`` There was a lot of preparation , '' Orla Fagan , spokeswoman for the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA , told CNN . `` I think that the lessons learned were very hard ones in Tacloban ... because there were so many lives lost , and I think they 've really taken cognizance this time and really made an all-out effort everywhere to bring people to safety . ''

Philippines gets more than its share of disasters

CNN 's Madison Park and CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller contributed to this report .

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NEW : Threat of flooding rises as the typhoon moves slowly across country

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Mayor of Tacloban says 48,000 people moved to shelters

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About 40 million people are in the path

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Storm should be weaker by the time it reaches Manila on Monday